Zach Thornton

Personal information
Full name	Zach Thornton
Date of birth	October 10, 1973 (1973-10-10) (age 36)
Place of birth	Edgewood, Maryland, United States
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Chivas USA
Number	28
Youth career
1993–1994	Loyola Greyhounds
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1996–1997	MetroStars	6	(0)
1997	→ North Jersey Imperials (loan)
1998–2006	Chicago Fire	215	(0)
2004	→ Benfica (loan)	0	(0)
2007	Colorado Rapids	1	(0)
2008	New York Red Bulls	0	(0)
2008–	Chivas USA	37	(0)
National team‡
1994–2001	United States	8	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 03:57, 27 October 2009 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 03:57, 27 October 2009 (UTC)

Zach Thornton (born October 10, 1973 in Edgewood, Maryland) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.

[edit] Career

[edit] Youth and College

Thornton played high school soccer at The John Carroll School in Bel Air, Maryland, and college soccer at Loyola-Maryland (coincidentally, he was also a third-team All-American at lacrosse), before being drafted by the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in the 7th round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft.

[edit] Professional

With then-former US national keeper and local star Tony Meola entrenched in Metro nets, Zach played only six games during his first two seasons in MLS. In 1997, he played a few games on loan with the North Jersey Imperials of the USISL, whose starting goalie was future Metro and US national teamer Tim Howard.

The Chicago Fire took Thornton in the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft, and his career took off. Beating out Mexican international Jorge Campos for the starting job, Zach lead the expansion Fire to that year's MLS Cup, and was named the league's Goalkeeper of the Year. He spent six years with the Fire, an automatic starter throughout his time there, and frequently at the top of MLS goalkeeping charts. In 2004, Thornton signed a six-month contract with Portuguese club Benfica. He didn't get a single first-team match with them, however, and re-signed with the Fire late in the MLS season. Thornton did not get any playing time, as his former backup Henry Ring had taken hold of the position in Thornton's absence. In 2005 Thornton would reclaim his spot in the Fire's net missing only a few matches due to injury. Thornton was traded to the Colorado Rapids on March 2, 2007 but was waived at the end of the year. He was subsequently picked up the club he started his MLS career at, Red Bull New York, as the team's reserve goalkeeper for 2008.

Thornton was traded to Chivas USA on August 2, 2008, and enjoyed an impressive first two seasons with the team, ultimately winning the 2009 Goalkeeper of the Year Award.^[1]

[edit] International

Thornton's first cap with the US national team came in 1994. He backed up Kasey Keller at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Thornton hasn't been able to translate his success in MLS to the international level, collecting only eight caps.

[edit] Personal

Thornton is nicknamed The Beast for his imposing size. An alternative nickname many fans use is The Bear, referring to his almost bear-like build compared to an average soccer player, or even an average goalkeeper. According to the Chicago Fire's official website, Zach Thornton stands some 6'3" tall and weighs 230 pounds.

[edit] Honors

[edit] Individual

• MLS Goalkeeper of the Year: 1998, 2009
• MLS Best XI: 2009

[edit] See also

• List of current MLS players

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• MLS player profile